Great DAW front-end with pro features and sound at a wallet-friendly price!

Every one of your mics will benefit from the PreSonus Eureka Pro Recording Channel. It is a high-quality single-channel recording front end with mic preamp, compression, EQ, phase inversion, rumble filter, and high-pass filter. The Class A transformer-coupled channel strip device features variable impedance and a saturation knob for tube saturation emulation. The full-featured compressor has variable threshold, attack, release, and gain makeup controls. Soft-knee compression mode and a hi-pass filter on the sidechain for frequency-dependent compression such as de-essing.

The audio transformer on the input stage offers a fully parametric 3-band EQ with overlapping bands and switchable staging for the EQ and compressor, enabling you to swap the order of the EQ and compression. Instrument, line, and microphone inputs as well as switchable gain reduction for the VU meter, dual outputs (TRS and XLR) that can be used simultaneously, and an optional digital output card capable of up to 24-bit 96kHz output on AES/EBU or S/PDIF. 48V phantom power unit with an 80Hz rumble filter, a 20dB pad, a phase inversion button, and balanced send and return jacks for inserting outboard gear.

Good sound, as described in other reviews. I just want to point out two things that should be considered before buying and thta I do not like them:1) No power...Read complete review

Good sound, as described in other reviews. I just want to point out two things that should be considered before buying and thta I do not like them:1) No power switch in the front of the unit!! it is hard to believe such a design, especially if you instal the unit in a rack and you do not want to use it... you cannot turn it off2) The compressor parameter scales are in arbitrary units. For example, ratio scale goes from 0 to 10. No way to guess the actual compression ratio. Same thing with attack and release time: both from fast to low... what does that mean in miliseconds? no way to find out.

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Most Liked Negative Review

Not so impressed!

Well I was excited for the three days it took to arrive at my doorstep only to be let down unfortunately. I have a Lexicon Lamda runnining Cubase Le and tried a nice Peavey...Read complete review

Well I was excited for the three days it took to arrive at my doorstep only to be let down unfortunately. I have a Lexicon Lamda runnining Cubase Le and tried a nice Peavey Millenium bass, an Audio Technica AT 3060 tube mic, an SM57 dynamic mic, and a really clean Ibanez with some Seymore Duncan Blackouts. with the exception of the compression and saturation (which is a cool way to mellow out your tone) all the results I was able to obtain at input could be duplicated within cubase! This was my first channel strip so I didn't really know what to expect, but for the price I felt that this upgrade to my studio should have stood alone and spoken for itself in terms of justifying the expense but I came to the conclusion that it did not.( and trust me I tried to make up reasons to keep this unit) In the end the Eureka could present an extremely valuable use for live applications as I was able to generate a vast palate of tone options in just seconds. So in summary If your trying to radically alter your tone at input for recording applications above and beyond what a standard interface and software will allow you to do, you may be dissapointed. I say try this unit out before you invest.

I used the studio channel before and it had a big hiss / hum since you turn on. With the eureka everything is clear and quite with big volume gain. This unit it's bigger and the bottoms , parts materials are more solid. The compressor works great, with this you fell your recordings in front your head. The extra charge for this unit worth.

Good sound, as described in other reviews. I just want to point out two things that should be considered before buying and thta I do not like them:1) No power switch in the front of the unit!! it is hard to believe such a design, especially if you instal the unit in a rack and you do not want to use it... you cannot turn it off2) The compressor parameter scales are in arbitrary units. For example, ratio scale goes from 0 to 10. No way to guess the actual compression ratio. Same thing with attack and release time: both from fast to low... what does that mean in miliseconds? no way to find out.

I just got my Eureka channel strip 2 months age and I have just recently got a chance to use it to record my vocal tracks into Pro Tools 9. The preamp is great and the features such as the EQ/ Compressor, TubeSaturation are a great big plus as well. I have own several channel strips, including the Arts Pro channel , Presonus Blue Tubes, and more! But, this channel strip is worth every penny and it is a great substitute if you can't afford more expensive mic pre's like the Avalon or UA.

I got this a few days ago and I must say Im pretty happy with it. The Saturation isn't as dramatic as I would have liked, but the compressor and EQ sound good and the pre amps it's self sound pretty good was well. Over all for the money it would be hard to top.

Iv been using the Eureka Channel for a few months now for my studio B. The preamp provides a very very low noise signal with a good amount of increased volume. The controlled Saturate lets you control how warm you want the signal which is amazing on vocals. The Compressor and EQ helps you get a good clean signal when recording on DAW and for those who dont have compressors, its perfect to help prevent the signal from distorting/clipping when recording vocals in a mixer or audio interface. I also own the Avalon Vt 737sp and the Eureka compares very closely to this very high end product. DOWNFALL on it is that it only has 1 Xrl connection but this product seemed like it was built for vocals anyway. So anyone thats on a budget and wants amazing close to high end quality, then I recommend you get the Eureka. Perfect for home and professional studios.

Well I was excited for the three days it took to arrive at my doorstep only to be let down unfortunately. I have a Lexicon Lamda runnining Cubase Le and tried a nice Peavey Millenium bass, an Audio Technica AT 3060 tube mic, an SM57 dynamic mic, and a really clean Ibanez with some Seymore Duncan Blackouts. with the exception of the compression and saturation (which is a cool way to mellow out your tone) all the results I was able to obtain at input could be duplicated within cubase! This was my first channel strip so I didn't really know what to expect, but for the price I felt that this upgrade to my studio should have stood alone and spoken for itself in terms of justifying the expense but I came to the conclusion that it did not.( and trust me I tried to make up reasons to keep this unit) In the end the Eureka could present an extremely valuable use for live applications as I was able to generate a vast palate of tone options in just seconds. So in summary If your trying to radically alter your tone at input for recording applications above and beyond what a standard interface and software will allow you to do, you may be dissapointed. I say try this unit out before you invest.

if you are recording guitar tracks into your pc or DAW, this will be that secret weapon that gives you that monster sound. Rather it's for bass or guitar, this little bad boy rocked my socks. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I had researched this and other units for a couple months before dropping the coin. Truth is, the coin was nothing compared to the shimmering vocal & guitar tracks I got in return. It's never about how much something costs, it's what it gives you in return...

I puchased the Eureka Recording channel in May of 2006. I wanted to see if I could get better quality than I was getting with an Aphex 107 through a DBX160A. The Eureka was in a completely different class! I started using it on vocals through an AKG 414 XLII mic. I bypassed both the EQ and Compressor. I then compared to a previous vocal recording by the same singer, through the same mic but through the Avalon Vt 737. I couldn't really notice any difference. I have also used this combination for accoustic guitar and it is in your face stellar! Don't hesitate...this is the one to buy unless money is no object.

It's easy to use and compressed the lead vocal right into the mix with the proper EQ which is exactly what I was looking for.Since I just got it, I can't say weather or not the quality will stand the test of time, but so far so good.